Sifter top container with rotatable closure for covering and uncovering sifter openings therein



y 29, 1952 J. T. AGERTON SIFTER TOP CONTAINER WITH ROTATABLE CLOSURE FOR COVERING AND UNCOVERING SIFTER OPENINGS THEREIN Filed Oct. 16. 1947 Patented July 29, 1 952 I SIFTER TOP CONTAINER WITII ROTATAB'LEY f; CLOSURE FOR COVERING AND UNCOVER- I G SIFTER OPENINGS THEBEIN T. Agerton, Upper Montclair, N. J., as:

Signor to American Can Company, New York,-'j

N; Y.', a corporation of New Jersey I Application October 16, 1947, Serial No. 780,190 1 The present inventionprelates to sifter; top containersor cans for. talcumrpowder or the-like products and has particular reference to an improved form of rotatableclosure, for covering and uncovering sifter openings in a container.

An object of the invention is the provisionof a sifter toprcan having a rotatable closure element wherein the closure element may beeasily rotated with .a minimum of v friction or finger pressurel Another object *is the provision of such a can wherein the closure elements are of simple construction and are easily and economically manufactured, and assembled with a minimum of operations. I v

Another object is the; provision of such a can wherein the novel assembly of the can end and closure parts bring out the inherent spring tension in the closure element to provide a close fit between the parts so that sifting of the contents when the container is closed is prevented or reduced toaminimum. a V

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent asit is better understood from the following description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereon Referring "to, the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper or dispensing end of a talcum powder can embodying the instant invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the can illustrated in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and certain of the parts shown in different positions; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 44 in Fig. 3.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a sheet metal talcum powder can comprising a tubular body I I, preferably of square cross-section, with rounded corners and having a top end member [2 permanently secured thereto in a suitable end seam l3. The top end member I2 is formed with an upwardly extending, short, hollow or tubular neck section l5 which is cylindrical in cross-section and which preferably is located in a central position on the end member. The outer or upper terminal edge of the neck section I5 is curved inwardly in a slight curl It as best shown in Fig. 4.

Dispensing of the contents of the container is efiected through a plurality of Sifter openings or apertures 2| which are formed in the top member l2. These sifter openings preferably are :Qglitillnsi (01. 222-512) "2. j r 7 arranged in equally spaced rows which radiate from the neck section I5. The drawings show 'four of these rows of openings with two apertures 2i in each row, although the .inventionis equally well adapted to more or less-rows and more or less apertures in each row if desired.

The sifter openings 2| may be'cOVered for. sealing the container and uncovered for permitting dispensing of its contents by arotatableone piece sheet metal closure C which includes .a plate 22 disposed inside the top I2 of th container. The plate 22 is formed with a; plurality ofradially disposed fiat and narrow. spider legsor .fingers 23 which set ofi wide spaces 24 located between them. The drawings show four of these fingers, one for each row of sifteropnings 2|. These fingers engage againstthe inner surface of the top member I2; When'f'orm'ed and beforeassembly the fingers are disposed at a slight upward and outward angle tothehoriz'ontal plane of the plate 22 and thereby possess an inherent spring action'which keeps'the' fingers in tight top end member 12 byia hollow boss orjfhandle element 25 which isiforme'd integrally' withjthe plate in a central position'relative to its radiating fingers 23. This handle element comprises a cylindrical barrel or bearing section 26, a cylindrical knurled knob 27, and an inwardly projecting annular bead 28 disposed between the bearing section and the knob.

The bearing section 26 extends up into the neck section [5 of the end member 12 and rotatively engages its inner surface, thus locating the plate 22 in the container and forming a trunnion for the proper rotation of the plate. The knob 21 extends above the neck section 15 in an exposed position on the outside of the container where it is available for manual rotation. The bead 28 forms an annular groove on the outside of the handle element immediately adjacent the curled edge l6 on the neck section and provides a retaining shoulder 29. The curled edge it of the neck section extends into this groove and abuts against the shoulder 29 as shown in Fig. 4 and thus holds the handle element 25 under tension in raised position and forces the plate 22 in place on the container against the spring action of the fingers 23 while permitting the plate to be easily rotated. An annular ridge 30 formed in the plate 22 at the base of the barrel 26 adds strength .to the 010- sure C and also improves the spring action of fingers 23. These fingers radiate from the ridge 30 with the fixed end of each finger held against the under side of the top end member 12 and close to the innermost sifter openings, thus increasing effectiveness of the spring action of each finger.

Thus byv a mere turning of the knob 2'1, the spring fingers 23 may be readily shifted into a position over the sitter openings 2! as shown in Fig. 3 to seal the container or may be shifted into a position where the sifter openings are uncovered as shown in Fig. 2 to permit dispensing of the contents of the container through them. This movement of'the fingers islimited by a pair of stop buttons 3| which are pressed inwardly from the top end member l2 and which are located so as to be engaged by an edge of the fingers when the fingers are in proper sifter opening covering or uncovering position.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of 'its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merelya preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A sifter top'conta'ine'r for powder products and the like, comprising in combination a top end member having a plurality of sifter openings arranged in rows radiating from a tubular neck section formed on said top end member, said end member having a substantially fiat inner surface, a rotatable plate member located within said container adjacent said end member and having fiat radially disposed spaced spring fingers engaging against said fiat inner surface of the top end member for movement into and out or register with said sifter openings, and a hollow handle element formed integrally with said plate member and extending through said neck section into-an exposed position outside of said container for-rotating said plate member,

"said handle element having an inwardly extending annular groove formed therein and setting off a shoulder adjacent the top terminal edge of said neck section, said neck section having its top terminal edge crimped inwardly and terminating in an inwardly directed raw edge confined within said groove and having engagement with said shoulder for; retaining said handle element and said plate member in position against the spring resistance of said fingers.

2. A sifter top container for powder products and the like, comprising in combination a top end member havinga plurality of sifter openings arranged in rows radiating from a tubular neck section formed on said top end member, said end member having a relatively flat inner surface, a rotatable plate member located within said container adjacent said end member, an annular ridge formed centrally in said plate member, fiat radially disposed spaced imperforate spring fingers extending outwardly from said annular ridge and engaging against said fiat inner surface of the top end member for movement into and out of register with said sifter'openings, a hollow handle element formed integrally with said plate member and extending through said neck section into an exposed position on the outside of said container for rotating said plate member, said handle element'having an inwardly extending annular groove formed therein and'setting ofi a shoulder adjacent the top terminal edge of said neck section, said neck section having its top terminal edge crimped inwardly and terminating in a raw edge confined within said annular groove and-having engagement with said shouldenfor retaining'said handle element and said plate member in position against the spring resistance of'said'fmgers.

JOSEPH TFAGERTON.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES ATEN Number Dat Name I 160,663 Field Marni); 1875 755,299 Kent- Mar. 22, 1904-. 942,562 Hyde Dec. '7, 1909 1,021,480 

